ARTICLES ABOUT LYONS BY DATE - PAGE 5

A historic two-story castlelike building in west suburban Lyons that dates to the 19th century was razed Friday after an early morning fire. Lyons fire Chief Gordon Nord said the fire started at 2:30 a.m. at the vacant building at 3901 Joliet Ave., a short distance from the village's eight-story landmark Hofmann Tower that also resembles a castle. Nord said the fire was extinguished by 6 a.m. He added that the building had to be razed because it was next to a baseball batting cage where children congregate.

For six consecutive weeks, Simeon pummeled its Public League opponents but had a sour taste in its mouth from three nonconference losses to start the season. The Wolverines' Class 8A playoff opener Saturday against Lyons served as a palate-cleanser. No. 6-seeded Simeon rallied from an eight-point deficit and held Lyons scoreless in the second half to escape with a 20-16 victory at Gately Stadium. The Wolverines will face Neuqua Valley next weekend. Senior quarterback Timon Watkins was 11-for-14 for 173 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and added 75 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Lyons barely has qualified for the playoffs a few times in recent years, but the Lions saved their closest call for last weekend's make-or-break game with Proviso West. "We always make it interesting," Lyons coach Kurt Weinberg said. "We won 21-20 to go 5-4. That's as tight as it gets. " Now the trick is to get history to continue to repeat itself. Lyons picked up steam in the playoffs and reached the Class 8A quarterfinals each of the last three years. The No. 11 seed in the 8A lower bracket, the Lions will head to Chicago's South Side to take on No. 6-seeded Simeon (6-3)

As Oak Park quarterback Lloyd Yates scampered 25 yards in the second quarter Saturday against Lyons, a sudden downpour blanketed Bennett Field. The Lions had as much luck stopping the Huskies as they did staying dry. Oak Park ran at will against Lyons in a 31-26 road victory to spoil the Lions' homecoming game. The No. 12 Huskies racked up 324 rushing yards, including 237 in the first half, as they guaranteed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1987 and 1988.

Lyons' penchant for recovering from slow starts has been well documented. In what the Lions hope turns out to be a microcosm of the 2013 season, Tommy Fiedler's first pass attempt Saturday against Hinsdale Central afternoon was intercepted. The junior quarterback proceeded to direct five consecutive touchdown drives as Lyons won its second straight following a 1-3 start by defeating the Red Devils 35-14. At 3-3 with remaining games against Oak Park (5-1), York (3-3) and Proviso West (2-4)

For the last few years, Lyons typically has hit midseason form around midseason. This season is no different. For the fourth consecutive year, Lyons is building toward a playoff spot after winning their second straight game, 35-14 Saturday against Hinsdale Central "I think we just realized that this is the time (to start playing), and we can't wait any longer," quarterback Tom Fiedler said. The Lions (3-3, 2-1) lost three of its first four games but thrust themselves into the playoff chase in this West Suburban Silver game.

'D' gets an 'A' Bolingbrook can no longer rely on Aaron Bailey's ability to score on any given play, but the No. 7 Raiders appear to be every bit as good defensively as they were in winning the Class 8A title in 2011. Safety Parrker Westphal, LB Tuff Borland and the rest of the speedy defense have allowed just 19 points. The true test will begin next week, when the Raiders travel to No. 10 Homewood-Flossmoor. They'll host No. 13 Lincoln-Way East the following week. Jump, jump Perennial Class 5A contender Kaneland could benefit from a jump to Class 6A this postseason.

Lyons' early season struggles were all too familiar. The good news for the Lions is there's still time to make another postseason run. While Oak Park and Fenwick were keeping their perfect records intact, Lyons (2-3) remained in the hunt with perhaps its best performance of the season in a 17-10 victory over Downers Grove North. It was particularly gratifying for a defense that allowed 62 points and a state-record 675 yards passing in a loss to Willowbrook three weeks earlier.

A suburban police officer assigned to a federal task force probing contraband cigarette sales in the Chicago area has been charged with robbing targets of his investigations of thousands of dollars and falsifying reports to cover it up, authorities said Monday. Jimmy Rodgers, 43, a Lyons police officer, was arrested last week and charged in a federal criminal complaint with one count of robbery. He was released on his own recognizance after appearing Friday in federal court in Chicago , according to the FBI. Authorities said Rodgers worked on a Food and Drug Administration task force investigating the sale of contraband cigarettes that do not have state or county tax stamps and are often sold under the counter at convenience stores.